Chamber News
Connecting Business and Community Since 1947
Coldwater, Michigan October 2015
Career Day Speakers Wanted
Marketing Workshop with The Daily Reporter
Chemical Bank After Business Hours
Coffee Talk
Stop by for a hot cup of joe and a bite to eat (our treat).
Start your day with networking and chat with your chamber leaders... we love hearing from you!
Portrait Photo Package
One bad head shot can damage credibility and cost you financially! You've studied and worked hard and your photo should reflect that.
The chamber is offering a one-time special on October 27th... receive 3 professional head & shoulder digital images for only $20 so call the chamber today to schedule! (517) 278-5985
LUNCHEON SEMINAR: Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents & Other Intellectual Property
Whether your intellectual property is a trademark, copyright, domain name, trade secret, propietary technology or other type of valuable know-how, you'll want to attend this seminar. For many businesses, their intellectual property is their most valued asset.
Attorney Michael Caywood of Dresser, Dresser, Haas & Caywood, P.C. will lead attendees through the topics in a general and business manner, enabling them to have a better undersrtanding of intellectual property and how to protect their interest and benefits!
Registration & more info here
DETAILS:
Monday, November 23rd
CHC Conference Center:
11:00 AM - Seminar Begins
11:45 PM - Lunch
12:15 PM - Seminar Continues
1:00 PM - Release / Networking
COST:
$10.00 includes lunch
Emmy's Salon & Spa
Halo Branded Solutions
Broadway Grille * Five Star Pizza
A Message from Chamber Chairman, Curtis MacRae
Here’s an offer: If you are not a Chamber member, you can join now, and your membership will extend to this time next year; it doesn’t expire at year-end as it used to. So, if you haven’t joined, you can now to pick your join-date, and your renewal can be scheduled when it’s best for you and your business.
And, that’s just one minor Chamber change since the beginning of 2014. You read it here last month (at least, I hope you did), that I believe EVERY business, every non-profit, every organization in this community should be a part of the Chamber. By joining, for a cost of less than $25/month, your organization demonstrates that it supports other businesses, champions the community, is a team player, and wants to be a part of a growing economy. For another $5-$6/month you can get all kinds of Chamber marketing benefits. Who wouldn’t take advantage of that?
Let’s take a look at what this organization does and how it impacts business, the economy, and Coldwater, and Branch County, and how it’s been enhanced in the past year+.
While the Chamber has made several improvements over the past few years, I’m going to concentrate on changes since 2014 so you can see the dramatic recent impact that this organization has had.
- The Board hired Nichole Steel as executive director – if you haven’t had a chance to experience Nichole’s impact, you’re missing out; Nichole is a dynamic, creative, hard-working, enthusiastic, charismatic, idea person, who’s putting her new ideas to work for business and for the community.
- We retained Jamie Bracy in a part time role to do marketing and design projects for the Chamber – you’ve seen a lot of her work this year, and it is professional and artistic.
- Our Board has evolved, with strong, new members from a cross-section of business, non-profit and community members, and a strong succession plan has been put in place to maintain strong leadership.
- The Downtown Business Association (DBA) viewed our progress, and committed to “merge” its team and programs with the Chamber, adding strength and cutting costs in the process -- StrawberryFest, AppleFest, Entertainment Under the Stars, and all DBA events are now coordinated by the Chamber with support from those who always supported those events.
- Our City government team and the Downtown Development Association (DDA) have gotten more involved in Chamber activities and have taken pro-active steps to support the Chamber’s goals.
- The Coldwater Country Conference & Visitors Bureau has moved its physical office into the Chamber building, allowing for more synergy between the two groups and their leaders, and fostering a shared emphasis on common projects.
- The Chamber has enhanced their Business for Breakfasts and After-Hours networking events by reducing their quantity, but enhancing their quality; and members and non-members are all welcome -- and, we have added some educational and learning events that are also provided to non-members as well as members.
- A Farmers Market was added this summer, and while the Chamber is not the sole organizer, Nichole and her team have played a major role in this new project – vendor participation is growing, and we’ve had as many as 1,000 attendees on a Saturday morning (stop by for quality products and listen to good music).
- And, we continue to coordinate the Ornament Auction, the annual Awards dinner, the Chamber Golf outing, and several other events to celebrate and enhance business.
- In an effort to be as open as possible, we have scheduled 5-6 dates per year when the Chamber Director, Board, and Ambassadors will be available to sit in an informal setting (no agenda -- cinnamon rolls and coffee/juice provided) for 60-90 minutes – we’re listening to YOU; the next one is October 27 (7:30 - 9:00 a.m.) – stop by the Chamber office and listen and/or be heard.
- We’ll continue to write this column and/or you can hear Nichole on the radio regularly – we want you to know what’s going on here.
So, please support your Chamber (it is your Chamber) and please support your Chamber members; they’re involved, committed, and a they are a plus for this community.
Curt MacRae is the chair of the Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is also owns Curtis Funding Group (888-510-1355 – cmac@curtisfunding.com), a Chamber member that provides equipment leasing & financing funds for businesses to acquire new/used equipment. His office is located in the Chamber Building.
BCCADV Open House
Hor d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided along with stations highlighting every service within the agency.
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2015, 05:00 PM
CHC Conference Center
Community Development Block Grant Presentation
Thursday, Oct 15, 2015, 10:00 AM
1 Grand Street, Coldwater, MI, United States
QHS Homecoming
Friday, Oct 16, 2015, 05:00 PM
Quincy, MI, United States
Fall Color Run Train Rides
** There are two runs on each day an 11AM and a 2PM ride.** MORE INFO
Sunday, Oct 18, 2015, 11:00 AM
Little River Railroad, West Park Avenue, Coldwater, MI, United States
Ribbon Cutting at North Woods Coffee Co
Monday, Oct 26, 2015, 04:30 PM
North Woods Coffee Co, West Chicago Street, Coldwater, MI, United States
Halloween Haunted Forest
Mark your calendars.....We are getting ready for our 2nd annual Halloween Haunted Forest on Oct. 29, and 30. MORE INFO
6-7pm less scary
7-9pm scary
$3.00 student
Thursday, Oct 29, 2015, 06:00 PM
Rotary Park, Coldwater, MI, United States
Quincy's Halloween Parade & Safe Treat
Saturday, Oct 31, 2015, 06:00 PM
South Main Street, Quincy, MI, United States
Coldwater's Halloween Parade & Trick-or-Treating
This year's Halloween parade theme is "Things that Glow in the Night". Enter your float today. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place juried winners. Join us for an evening of fun in Coldwater. MORE INFO
5-6:30p - Trick-or-Treating
6:30p - Parade Line-up on N. Hudson St
7:30p - Halloween Parade Starts
Along W Chicago Street from Hudson to Pierson Street, Downtown Coldwater
Saturday, Oct 31, 2015, 05:00 PM
West Chicago Street, Coldwater, MI, United States
About Us
Email: info@coldwaterchamber.com
Website: http://coldwaterchamber.com/httpbranchareachamber-com.htm
Location: 20 Division St, Coldwater, MI, United States
Phone: 517-278-5985
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coldwaterareachamber
Twitter: @chambercw